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This enzyme is called p450, and several diet supplements and herbs have reported effects on it. Depending on how these products interact with p450, using anti-HIV drugs with them could either raise or lower the blood levels of the anti-HIV drugs. Herbs with reported effects on p450 include St. John's Wort, garlic, ginseng, melatonin, milk thistle (silymarin), geniposide and skullcap. For more detailed information on St. John's Wort, read NIH Study Cautions Use of St. John's Wort with Anti-HIV drugs.
In a randomized trial using actual AIDS patients, THC, a component of cannabis, was shown to significantly increase appetite and decrease nausea, as compared to the effects of taking placebos. While unwanted effects were usually moderate to mild, the trials showed that patients' moods improved, as well as their weight. These results made the case for the use of cannabis as an HIV/AIDS treatment, as determined by the American Institute of Medicine.